Opera Tips & Tricks: Content Blocking

By Aleksander AasAleksander. Monday, September 6, 2010 1:48:27 PM

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Opera Tips and Tricks

We came across this topic on Reddit explaining the new Flashblock feature in Chrome. As usual this isn't anything new for Opera users, as content blocking was introduced with Opera 9 in 2006. whistle

Content block guide

  1. Go to any site where you want content blocked.
  2. Right-Click on the page, find the menu item "Block Content" or go to "Tools > Advanced > Block Content".
  3. Click on any flash or picture element you want blocked. The content should then appear like the picture in this post.
  4. Click on "Done" after selecting elements you want removed.
  5. You now have less unwanted content on your favorite sites!

Should you miss the adds or content you blocked, just go to content blocking again and select details to find a list of blocked content.

How does your Opera look like?Try Twiget - the new Twitter widget

Comments

Paul GeorgeWolfHook Monday, September 6, 2010 2:46:08 PM

It's a good feature and I have used it in the past but more often than not I have had instances of ads or images never being blocked. You can go through this procedure numerous times on the same ad and it will continue to show regardless.

For all my Opera installs cross platform I tend to use this urlfilter.ini which does a great job: http://www.fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera/urlfilter.ini

Vladimir Barosvbaros Monday, September 6, 2010 2:47:33 PM

Is there any way that content blocking will support complex filters ala AdBlock Plus, in the future, so that we can just import those filters?

michaelk99 Monday, September 6, 2010 2:50:27 PM

Why not mention the On Demand Plugin option in Opera
:config? It works great as a native FLashblock.

KristianKristianP Monday, September 6, 2010 2:51:29 PM

Originally posted by WolfHook:

For all my Opera installs cross platform I tend to use this urlfilter.ini which does a great job: http://www.fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera/urlfilter.ini



haha very important block rules in your ini wink

Originally posted by php.ini:


*.xxxcounter.*
*.xxxporntalk.com/images/*
*.xxxwebtraffic.com/*
*.zxxds.net/*
*/ads.realslutparty.com/*
*/feeds.videosz.com/iframe/*
*/flashpeelads/*
*adhitzads.com/*
*enormousdating.com/iframe*
*epiccams.com/exports/tour*
*fuck-access.com/*
*http://s.xvideos.com/*
*sexmoney.com/*
*sexsearch.com/*
*sextracker.*


redpok Monday, September 6, 2010 2:55:26 PM

You need easy subscription to third party blocklists, like all the adblock extension have. Nobody wants to download some ini-file and the try to find some magical folder where to drop it...

I think Opera Link sync for blocklist is coming in next version?

Dandantist Monday, September 6, 2010 2:56:23 PM

The content blocking feature is nice, but it totaly sucks without a good plugin like AdBlock.

Both the blocking described here and the urlfilter.ini lists are way too complicated for 95% of the users. No wonder Opera is still losing users. We ware waiting for AdBlock for years now, but they don't care.

Tamil Monday, September 6, 2010 2:59:38 PM

up

Opera ad block filters

Charles SchlossChas4 Monday, September 6, 2010 3:10:50 PM

up Its what got my brother to use Opera

Tamil has a nice post

Harish Lakshminarayanaharish-l Monday, September 6, 2010 3:14:46 PM

Originally posted by dantist:

but it totaly sucks without a good plugin like AdBlock.



sorta agree on this one but its not a plugin we need, its a better UI to add/subscribe/edit (other than the obvious urlfilter.ini) to an adblock list.

thegodspeed Monday, September 6, 2010 3:52:38 PM

Content Blocking sucks. If I want to block *ads* I also cannot visit pages which url's consist word ads for an example: www.random.com/I-hate-ads - The page is blank because you have blocked word ads.

Artur „Jurgi” JurgawkaJurgi Monday, September 6, 2010 3:57:16 PM

With the right click one cannot block scripts, etc. That's why I prefer to manually seek and add rules directly into filter.ini.

Tamil Monday, September 6, 2010 3:58:52 PM

Originally posted by thegodspeed:

If I want to block *ads* I also cannot visit pages which url's consist word ads for an example: www.random.com/I-hate-ads - The page is blank because you have blocked word ads.

Content blocker can be disabled temporarily. See my blog for button.

João EirasxErath Monday, September 6, 2010 4:11:34 PM

Originally posted by thegodspeed:

If I want to block *ads* I also cannot visit pages which url's consist word ads for an example: www.random.com/I-hate-ads -


Then you're using a bad rule that blocks too much.

Examples:
bad
*ads*

good
http://ads.*
*/ads/*

João EirasxErath Monday, September 6, 2010 4:12:44 PM

Originally posted by chooseopera:

We came across this topic on Reddit explaining the new Flashblock feature in Chrome.


Sorry, but the content blocker is *not* similar to flash block. For flash block, opera users need to enable "On Demand Plugin" in opera:config

Paul GeorgeWolfHook Monday, September 6, 2010 4:55:03 PM

Originally posted by KristianP:

haha very important block rules in your ini


Not mine, can't take credit for that list.

Is Opera ever likely to have it's own plugin system? It does seem the obvious evolution of a web browser, having an adblock plus add-on for Opera would be a step in the right direction.

Keep on saying it in most of my posts, I like Opera, but just can't make it my default browser.

Shirish Kamathhellboy4ever Monday, September 6, 2010 5:09:00 PM

is it possible to block specific JavaScripts using the "Block Content" feature? I've tried, but it doesn't seem to work...

WolvenSpectre Monday, September 6, 2010 5:25:17 PM

You should also point out instructions for content blocking while in private browsing mode.

Lets say you see an ad you find objectionable when in PBM. If you right click on the page the content blocking is greyed out.

If you still want to block it you do this

1. Hover over the ad, right click and copy the address, or check other properties of the ad until you have the source address of it.

2.Go to Opera Menu/Settings/Preferences/Advanced/Content and click the blocked content button. You then put the Top Level Domain of the server for the ad (eg http://www.adpurveyor.com/) and add an asterix (*) at the end to stand in for everything that could come after the TLD.

3. Reload the page and the ad should be gone.

ClashCityRockerclashcityrocker Monday, September 6, 2010 6:27:14 PM

Windows users looking for a autoupdate system can use Opera Adblock Updater. It basically pulls the blocklists down from whereever you want via http (default is the fanboy.nz list).

There is also some stuff here:

http://expertester.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/how-to-effectively-block-ads-in-opera-10/

d4rkn1ght Monday, September 6, 2010 6:31:48 PM

up

Branobrano99 Monday, September 6, 2010 7:08:01 PM

Why it is, that on some pages the control buttons for blocking are not displayed? I then have to close the page because only ads are shown:)

José Batistawyldkat Monday, September 6, 2010 9:13:44 PM

In Portuguese (by me):

http://my.opera.com/wyldkat/blog/2010/05/30/bloquear-elementos-ads-flash-imagens-etc

Nice tip wink

D1sasterp1ece Monday, September 6, 2010 10:27:20 PM

Instead of clicking once to show the menu, then clicking once more to select 'Block Content', it's much easier to bind "Content block mode on" to a single key shortcut. Works like a charm for me.

By the way, you may want to add to the title post that just clicking on an element blocks the whole domain, while clicking on it with shift held down blocks the specific element.

Angelikiellinidata Monday, September 6, 2010 11:12:47 PM

up thanks for sharing!

Cutting Spoonhellspork Tuesday, September 7, 2010 3:03:28 AM

Hehe, too complicated? For most of my customers, they block a few ads the first day and never see any more. After all, many people only visit a few sites on the internet, and those few sites only have one-or-two advertising agreements.

However, improving the ability to block iframes and individual scripts would be better.

Kyle Bakerkyleabaker Tuesday, September 7, 2010 5:40:18 AM

Here's the list I've been maintaining (very modest, but all I need) :/
http://kyleabaker.com/bbpress/topic.php?id=22

Martin K.Gunvaldfar Tuesday, September 7, 2010 6:12:04 AM

Originally posted by michaelk99:

Why not mention the On Demand Plugin option in Opera
:config?



Because you can not deactivate this option in the site-options for a specific site. Otherwise would this feater be brilliant.

Nik_Mkdnikmkd Tuesday, September 7, 2010 8:39:40 AM

Originally posted by Tamil:

Opera ad block filters



Nicely done Tamil, but is there any solution for blocking those annoying facebook social plugin from many pages?

Tamil Tuesday, September 7, 2010 8:43:31 AM

Originally posted by nikmkd:

is there any solution for blocking those annoying facebook social plugin from many pages?

Give me link to page with social plugin.

Nik_Mkdnikmkd Tuesday, September 7, 2010 9:02:54 AM

Originally posted by Tamil:

is there any solution for blocking those annoying facebook social plugin from many pages?


One example - http://forum.kajgana.com/index.php

Tamil Tuesday, September 7, 2010 9:12:00 AM

Add the following to content blocker.
*.connect.facebook.com/*

Nik_Mkdnikmkd Tuesday, September 7, 2010 9:31:35 AM

Originally posted by Tamil:

Add the following to content blocker.


Its still there (the facebook window from right side which shows my friends that like the page)

JaredpieRr0Ur Tuesday, September 7, 2010 9:35:01 AM

Well if a website has different ad-sponsors they'll have different urls, so you'll sort of find yourself blocking ads frequently. . . but thanks 10.70's content blocking sync!

reeboker Tuesday, September 7, 2010 11:39:33 AM

it doesn't work on everything but it's really handy, couple websites are using hidden code for ad content, or it's implemented into the site too (like when you block an ad, you don't see the right format of the site, for example I think cnet is using this), and also some flash can't be blocked too

Blaz(ž) Pristavitalianjob44 Tuesday, September 7, 2010 4:59:18 PM

Anti-internet i guess, what if i block Opera logo on blog the same thing.

contarc Tuesday, September 7, 2010 8:42:14 PM

yes http://adblocklist.com/

cheers

Sn3ipen Tuesday, September 7, 2010 9:38:07 PM

I only use On 'Demand Plugin' because flash ads are annoying me so much and they are taking up resources from my system. They also makes my browser unstable. I wish to support the sites I am visiting but not so much that i want Flash. I am supporting websites without flash based ads. bigsmile

Opera is hardly ever crashing anymore.

I even got a button for deactivating it when I want to watch videoclips in flash.

http://my.opera.com/dude09/blog/on-demand-plugin-opera-turbo

Dr. Flaydr-flay Wednesday, September 8, 2010 6:46:43 PM

As "lilmoder" says using the block-list from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm will kill most ads.

They have started including malware sites in the list, so it is more usefull than ever.

This is the best way to block sites, as you don't need to install any software or plugins.

Using the HOSTS file will block everything via any connection with LMHOSTS enabled, so it works for every browser or net/web software.

idea Instead of faffing about trying to over-write the old HOSTS file, I found it is far easier to open the hosts file in notepad & just paste the list over the old contents.

It would be far easier if Opera could open the file itself, so you can paste the content straight from the site.

I used to use a mini-browser called "Voyager 2004".
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download630.html
This browser lets you switch on/off ad-blocking via the hosts file, by over-writing the file for you, with the original backed-up hosts file.
It has the list of entries kept in its folder as a fake DLL. you can open it with notepad & replace it with an updated list.
Bingo-ringo, Bob's yer fathers brother, you can now switch full add-blocking on & off yes

This is what Opera should be able to do aswell, because its so easy!

reeboker Friday, September 10, 2010 12:51:34 PM

Originally posted by contarc:

:yes: http://adblocklist.com/

thx, just started to use the list, dunno if it's updated on daily basis but I've enabled auto-update also, wish that wget thingie works smile

reeboker Friday, September 10, 2010 12:55:55 PM

Originally posted by dr-flay:

As "lilmoder" says using the block-list from http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm will kill most ads.



Well seems handy/interesting even only by reading it. But do you really think that classic end-user would like to mess with hosts files etc. bigsmile

Well, anyways, thx for the post will look on the Voyager as you've suggested Opera should support this too.

kluKLU Wednesday, September 15, 2010 4:18:43 PM

I've been using Opera for almost a decade. I've tweaked inis, I've edited hosts, I've dabbled with proxies, I've used Content Block, I've tried scripts.

And frankly it's all a pain in the @rse. Especially as all that manual tweaking *might* work... but only on that one single install of Opera, and I'll have to try and repeat on all other/subsequent installs of Opera (desktop, laptop, girlfriend's laptop, triple-boot of Windows/Linux/FreeBSD, etc.).

Opera, please just give us (or allow someone else to give us, e.g. a plug-in) one single, simple way of dealing with this.

PLEASE!

Btw I'm still waiting for text-only zoom too, a mere nine years later. sad

Dr. Flaydr-flay Wednesday, September 15, 2010 9:47:48 PM

Originally posted by reeboker:

Well seems handy/interesting even only by reading it. But do you really think that classic end-user would like to mess with hosts files etc.




Yes exactly my point. Opera should be able to update the hosts file like Voyager does.
If a program that old can do it, then so can Opera!

Pritam SahaPritamSaha Friday, September 17, 2010 12:29:07 PM

Some images can not be blocked in this way , but I can block them if I click on " No Image ".

VwzOlt Monday, September 27, 2010 9:28:04 PM

Hi, just started using opera. Awesome browser. Just a quick question.

How do you block youtube content? That's what I had in my adblock config on firefox. Thanks.

doubleclick.net$domain=youtube.com
googlesyndication.com$domain=youtube.com
/js/ads_masthead$domain=youtube.com
/yt/swf/ad-*.swf$domain=youtube.com
/api/ads/$domain=youtube.com
|http://content.yieldmanager.edgesuite.net/atoms/47/57/4f/9b/*
|http://s0.2mdn.net/2287891/*
|http://www.news9online.org/business-news/index_files/*
|http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/*
|http://cdn1.telemetryverification.net/tv2n/presenter/deploys/inbanner/r0067/*
youtube.com##.ad-div
youtube.com###ad_creative_collapse_btn_1
youtube.com###feedmodule-PRO
youtube.com###movie-promo
youtube.com##.watch-ppv-vid
youtube.com###search-pva
youtube.com##.searchView.list-view
youtube.com##.main-tabs-spotlight
youtube.com###chrome-promo
###watch-promoted-videos-container
##.homepage-chrome-promo-content
youtube.com##DIV#quicklist-tray
youtube.com##DIV#quicklist-bar
youtube.com##DIV#quicklist-bar-container

Charles SchlossChas4 Monday, September 27, 2010 10:12:17 PM

Add the following under [exclude] section of urlfilter.ini file
more info:
http://my.opera.com/Tamil/blog/ad-block

VwzOlt Monday, September 27, 2010 11:07:01 PM

I tried that already but it doesn't work. I think its the formatting...

Cutting Spoonhellspork Saturday, October 2, 2010 7:01:33 PM

Formatting is a definite issue here. For a quick, somewhat extreme solution, just use Fanboy's blocker. You can always unblock a few things later. Remember that you can also block items by clicking or chift-clicking while in Blocker selection mode. PM me, and we'll get this sorted out.

Pritam SahaPritamSaha Saturday, January 1, 2011 6:16:58 AM

content block is good, but I want add ons like " flash block " to block the videos before loading , and it is difficult to block flash videos every time while surfing , is not it ?

D1sasterp1ece Saturday, January 1, 2011 10:47:43 PM

In Opera 11, you can have plug-ins only on demand. Look in Preferences > Advanced > Content.

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